Before we get to the crux of this week’s column, there is a small challenge for you to overcome: a riddle that holds the key to the column, as it were. Here goes: “I start with the letter ‘E’, and I end with the letter ‘E’. I contain only one letter, yet I am not the letter ‘E’, What am I?”

The answer to the riddle is: “I am an envelope.” Did the column’s title give it away, perhaps? If you do not agree with the answer, did you perhaps guess ‘eye’? A riddle often depends on interpretation. So, let me just say: “Eye see what you are saying. I will send you a letter a little later.”

Talking about letters, is your letter in the post? The South African Revenue Service (Sars) Registration, Licensing and Accreditation (RLA) section sent a letter to traders on June 10 titled ʻUpdate your Customs Profile to Avoid Suspension’. I found it in its electronic form on the Sars website and wondered what an electronic letter is called. No, it is not an email (electronic mail). According to my trusted search engine, “a hard-copy letter sent by email is called an attachment or a file attachment. The physical letter is scanned or converted to a digital format (such as a PDF or image) and then attached to the email. This allows the recipient to view and print the letter, if needed.”

If you are a reader of a certain age, you might well be humming, “Oh, yes, wait a minute, Mr Postman. Wa-a-a-ait, Mr Postman. Please, Mr Postman, look and see. Is there a letter in your bag for me? Please, please, Mr Po-o-ostman. Cause it’s been a mighty long time (whoa, yeah) since I heard from Sars.” The ‘Sars’ addition is a bit of poetic licence on my part, amending the lyrics of The Marvelette’s 1961 song, Please, Mr Postman.

Should you not have seen the letter, it reads: “Dear trader, to better assist traders in meeting their tax and customs obligations, Sars regularly updates and modifies its systems, ensuring simplicity and ease of compliance. In upholding and supporting seamless cross-border trade, Sars requires all customs and excise registrants to update their profiles on the RLA system. As we extend our gratitude to compliant traders who have already transitioned and integrated into the new RLA system, we encourage those who have yet to make the change to take action now. This will help you secure your trading privileges and contribute to a secure and efficient trade environment.

“Why it is important for you to migrate? When you comply, you have the following benefits at your fingertips: migration to the digital Sars Customs RLA services; protection against unauthorised use of your trader profile (customs code); and assurance that your trader profile will not be suspended (this will negatively impact on your ability to process import and/or export declarations).

“How can you migrate your profile and onboard to RLA? This can be done in three simple steps: Step 1: Update your RLA profile; all entity details must match your tax registration details on your Sars profile. Step 2: Merge tax and customs profiles with legal entity registration (here is a step-by-step guide on merging tax profiles: https://www.sars.gov.za/about/sars-tax-and-customs-system/efiling-features/merging-tax-profiles/). Step 3: Onboard through eFiling: register or log in to Sars eFiling (www.sarsefiling.co.za) to complete the process. Watch this helpful tutorial video: ‘How to access customs registration, licensing and accreditation on Sars eFiling. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN-sZWOFkpw).

“These additional resources will provide you with more details on migrating to RLA: RLA presentation: RLA Migration Presentation; and step-by-step guide: SC-CF-42 – Customs Trader Portal – External Guide. [https://www.sars.gov.za/latest-news/rla-profiles-urgent-notice-for-all-customs-traders/].

“Should you require more assistance, please email us at RLARegistrations@sars.gov.za.”

Just in case you think this is all new, Sars has been migrating all customs and excise traders to the new RLA system since 2022. To avoid the suspension of your customs code, you must update your customs code and entity details immediately. The snail mail option will suffice. You have been warned on both!